MICHAEL DeMOCKER / The Times-PicayuneHornets guard Antonio Daniels steals the ball from Jose Calderon of the Raptors during the game between the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena on Friday, February 6, 2009.

The Hornets (29-18) ended their four-game skid with plenty of style points, hitting a barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to overcome the woeful Toronto Raptors 101-92.

Peja Stojakovic had a team-high 28 points for New Orleans and found his 3-pointer stroke in the most crucial moments, David West, Rasual Butler and James Posey each had 17 points. Butler and Posey keyed a fourth-quarter spurt with hustle and timely 3s that helped New Orleans win its first game without injured point guard Chris Paul.

Jermaine O'Neal led the Raptors (19-33) with 24 points.

The Hornets host Minnesota on Sunday night at the New Orleans Arena.

FOURTH QUARTER

After controlling the paint for the first three quarters, O'Neal found the going tougher vs. Sean Marks. Yeah, Sean Marks.

Marks blocked O'Neal's shot on two straight possessions, one of which led to a 3-pointer by Rasual Butler that tied the score at 72.

O'Neal got the better of Marks with 7:28 remaining with a three-point play and 15-foot jumper to up the Raptors' lead to 83-75.

The Hornets really clamped down on the Raptors defensively. Every possession was a struggle for Toronto as New Orleans deflected numerous passes and made scoring a challenge.

James Posey's 3-pointer for the left corner tied the score at 83 with 5:08 remaining, and Rasual Butler followed with another 3 on the ensuing possession to give New Orleans its first lead since the second quarter.

The jump shots that abandoned New Orleans for most of the second and third quarters finally went through the rim in the fourth. Posey knocked down another 3, and Peja Stojakovic followed with another to cap a 17-0 run (the last 15 of which came on 3-pointers) as the Hornets built a 92-83 lead.

Devin Brown's 3-pointer with a minute left upped New Orleans' advantage to 97-89 and sealed the victory.

THIRD QUARTER

It's one thing to be without your best player, it's another to look like a team that's forgotten basic fundamentals.

Hornets fans showed their frustration with the team's effort midway through the period when Butler failed to block out Anthony Parker on Parker's missed 3. The Raptors got the ball back and Jose Calderon promptly nailed a 3-pointer for a 59-48 lead.

The Hornets, however, responded with a 3 from Stojakovic and a jumper by Butler that made the score 59-53 Raptors.

Butler kept the intensity up with an emphatic dunk between three Raptors down the left baseline for a highlight-reel moment. Antonio Daniels got into the act with a dunk over O'Neal on the Hornets' next possession to pull New Orleans to 61-58.

The Hornets showed more fortitude during the latter part of the third quarter, but they've obviously going to have a to play a lot better on both ends to overtake the Raptors, who are growing confident by the minute and hold a 69-64 advantage entering the final quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Posey finally found his jump shot. Posey has made two 3-pointers to help the Hornets push their lead to 33-19.

Devin Brown still looks erratic running the point. It's a struggle for Stojakovic, Brown, Posey, David West and Marks to get any continuity offensively. West still looks like he's hampered with the back injury that sidelined him for five games.

The Raptors have trimmed their deficit to 35-27 mainly by taking advantage of unforced turnovers by the careless Hornets.

The Hornets' transition leaves a lot to be desired. Jamario Moon he took off from the right side of the lane on a fast break for a dunk that sliced the Hornets' lead to 36-30.

Moments later, a quick 4-0 spurt by the Raptors whittled the Hornets' lead to 38-34 with 3:32 left until halftime.

Anthony Parker, aka Candace's brother, made a 3-pointer to cut it to 38-37 and followed with a jumper to give the Raptors their first lead since early in the first quarter.

How bad has it gotten for the Hornets?

After a steal and dunk by Moon, West was called for stepping on the inbounds line when taking the ball out. That's called about as often as traveling in the NBA.

On the Raptors' ensuing possession, Andrew Bargnani hit a 3-pointer followed by Calderon's tough, driving layup.

The Hornets were outscored 32-16 in the quarter and trail 48-42 at the half.

We know that Chris Paul is the team's best player, but don't underestimate Tyson Chandler's importance on the defensive end. The Raptors, without All-Star forward Chris Bosh, have dominated New Orleans 22-10 in the paint, while West has morphed into a jump-shooter.

FIRST QUARTER

Without Paul, the fame Princeton offense practiced by Coach Byron Scott has been reduced to more one-on-one play.

Ryan Bowen's first shot was an air ball. He looked tentative, and the offense had no flow. Bowen picked up two quick fouls less than four minutes into the game.

Plus, the Hornets have virtually no interior defense. O'Neal is dominating in the paint and can get any shot he wants to against West. O;Neal is 4-of-5 from the floor for eight points.

Stojakovic started hot, hitting two 3-pointers. He had a team-high eight points as the Hornets led 26-16 after the period.

PREGAME

Scott promised changes in his starting lineup, and tonight Bowen replaced Hilton Armstrong at center. Armstrong had filled in for starter Tyson Chandler, who's still nursing an ankle injury, and had done an admirable job. But Scott has been disappointed with his play of late, the final straw coming against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night when Armstrong was repeatedly beaten in the lane for layups and dunks.

Bowen, 6 feet 9, isn't physically gifted, but he's in the lineup to bring something the Hornets have lacked since Paul went down with a groin strain -- hustle and passion.

Fortunately for the Hornets, they won't have Bosh to deal with. He's out with a sprained right knee.

New Orleans is looking to end a season-high four-game losing skid. The Raptors have lost 11 of their past 14 games.